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1 














HOLIDAYS Cii COUNTRY. 










IN THE COUNTRY; 

OR, 

Ipessie, BgIH l^ob, and 



Sunday-school Department. 
PuBLisiiiNo House ok the M. E. Church, South. 
J. D. Barbee, Auent, Nashville, Tenn. 

1889. 





Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1889, 

By the Book Agents op the Methodist Episcopal Chuech, South, 
In tlie Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



n - 3 




reface.-^ 


“ I LOVE God and all little children.” With 
this idea well in mind, the writer has endeav- 
ored to tell the little folks of America of four 
bright children — Tessie, Beth, Bob, and Will 
— who in their own sweet way may amuse and 
instruct other children. For all of them she 
has a boundless love, and deems any effort to 
interest or entertain them seed sown on rich 
soil that may help the dear little human buds 
to blossom into lovelier flowers. 

The Author. 

( 5 ) 


V 


% 





« 


\ 


• * • 






^^onfents.-^ 


Chapter I. 

A Drive Through Fairyland 9 

Chapter II. 

Uncle Sam’s Practical Joke 15 

Chapter III. 

A Little Girl Lost and Found 23 

Chapter IY. 

One Purely Good Day 31 

Chapter Y. 

The Little Gypsy Boy 36 

Chapter YI. 

Tessie’s New Home Joy 43 

Chapter YII. 

Pleasure in Store for Beth 48 

Chapter YIII. 

Preparing for Another Trip 53 

Chapter IX. 

A Yisit from Santa Claus 57 

Chapter X. 

A Shadow in the Home . . 65 

Chapter XI. 

After Five Years 


( 7 ) 



4 






At 















ip tl?e (^Oij^try 


CHAPTER I, 

R Drive T]:\roilg]:\ Fairylarid, 


TV LITTLE weather-beaten carriage 
llL drawn by two rugged ponies, which 
trotted gayly along after the fashion 
of well-fed country ponies who know 
they are going home : the driver quiet 
and reserved, sitting stolidly still, his 
one aim in existence to be whipping 
flies off the off pony ; and four merry, 
laughing, roguish little folks on their 
way to spend vacation in the country. 

It was a lovely country road, shaded 
on both sides by tall green trees, over 


( 9 ) 


10 


Holidays in the Country, 


which were frequently entwined great 
wild-grape or muscadine vines, hung 
with large, purple clusters of rich, lus- 
cious fruit that made your mouth fair- 
ly water to behold, i^ow and then a 
saucy squirrel would peep its tiny head 
round a tree, then scamper away, dis- 
lodging the overripe fruit from its 
hold and causing the birds to flutter 
cheerily. 

Often the carriage splashed through 
clear creeks of running water, where 
the ponies stopped to drink and look 
with round-eyed wonder at the rich 
cane and grasses growing near. 

To the four little folks, 'Willie and 
Rob, Tessie and Beth, just out of 
school, this road was one of fairyland. 
Once before they had traveled the same 
road, when they went home with Uncle 
Samuel last summer. ]N"ow they were 


A Drive Through Fairyland* 


11 


going there again to spend the summer 
vacation. 

Will and Kob were Uncle Samuel’s 
own nephews, Tessie was Aunt Mary’s 
niece, and dear little Beth was the 
friend of Tessie, whom Aunt Mary 
had invited both as a companion for 
Tessie and because there were so many 
more little ones in the family that she 
thought it would be a relief to the 
mother to have her go. This was the 
party who were rattling so noisily over 
the country road. 

The driver would not humor them 
as Uncle Sam had done last summer 
when he carried them over the same 
road, stopping for them to gather a 
great cluster of dewberries, again for 
a lovely flower or a cluster of shining 
red berries, then again for them all to 
listen close up to the big rock near the 


12 


Holidays in the Country. 


creek, covered all over with lovely 
green moss and bright curly ferns, and 
called the Fairy’s Bower ” — here the 
water bubbled and rippled over the 
mossy stones, making weird music, 
which it was said in the fairy story 
told them by Aunt Mary would lull 
children to enchantment if they list- 
ened to it until they fell asleep. 

No, this driver drove straight on, 
not seeing the many wonderful sights 
which the weary little ones saw, nor 
hearing the sweet music in the woods 
which they heard. To him it was a 
rough road over stumps and cuts — a 
long, useless drive; and the time thus 
spent might have been better employed 
hoeing corn or cotton. ‘‘ What a pack 
of rubbish those children will be when 
they get there! ” he mentally exclaimed 
as he plodded along in his selfish, hard 


A Drive Through Fairyland, 


13 


way, never thinking how much pleas- 
anter life would be if every one made 
the most of the ^wesent and enjoyed 
the future by making the best of to- 
day. 

Tessie was watching the trees, fruits, 
and flowers which she saw everywhere. 
Will was looking straight at her glow- 
ing cheeks and bright eyes, while Eob 
and Beth were prattling merrily of the 
many nice things in store for them 
when they should reach Aunt Mary’s. 
Ah, how often we put from us the en- 
joyment of the present to live in the 
anticipation of the future! 

Isn’t that too lovely!” cried Tes- 
sie, standing up and snatching at a 
cluster of scarlet flowers which over- 
hung the roadway. But the flowers 
fell out, and Tessie came near follow- 
ing them. 


14 


Holidays in the Country. 


"Will gallantly jumped out and res- 
cued the flowers, but had to run like 
every thing to get in again ; yet this 
was only fun for them all, and away 
they went — ^four as happy children as 
ever spent a holiday in the country. 



CHAPTER II. 

Uricle Saul’s Practical JoKe. 


O W, I say, Will,’’ said Eob, soniG 



two or three days after their ar- 
rival, those girls are the most outdoing 
pieces I ever saw. W e can’t keep any 
thing nor do any thing, can’t hide any 
thing nor have any fun, hut they’re up 
to it. Who would ever have thought 
that two little curly-headed girls would 
make so much difference, anyway? 
Last week, when they weren’t here, we 
could do something : we might have our 
nuts anywhere, play what we pleased, 
and talk in almost any way when 
Aunt Mary wasn’t round, ^fow it’s 
different — can’t even go to the table 
without a lot of prinking, unless Un- 
cle Sam will say : ^ Heigho ! Eob, you 


( 15 ) 


16 


Holidays in the Country, 


forgot the girls, didn’t you?’ Wish 
they’d let you forget ’em; but they 
don’t, goodness knows. Wonder how 
in ten thousand nations, they ever man- 
aged to get those walnuts off that well- 
shed, anyway; they couldn’t a clum the 
post.” Here Rob drew a long breath 
and looked around. 

Will stood looking first toward the 
ground, then at the empty space where 
the nuts had been, on the top of a 
rather high shed that was built over 
a well from which stock were watered. 
Four tall posts supported this shed, 
and the boys, who had taken a ladder 
to climb up there, could not see how 
those little girls managed to get the 
nuts down; but they were beginning 
to find that what a girl lacked in 
strength she usually made up in some- 
thing else. They had left a large lot 


Uncle Sam's Practical Joke, 


17 


of nuts here, and the girls evidently 
had them — there was no other expla- 
nation. 

Can’t see how they did it,” said 
Will slowly. Here two curly heads 
popped up from a large trough in the 
corner, and two voices mingled in 
laughter. 

Can’t see how we did it?” cried 
Tessie, taking up a long stick and 
punching vigorously on the under side 
of the shed. That’s how.” 

‘^Well, I never!” cried Hob with a 
look of disgust. Girls are too tryin’ 
for any thing.” 

^^Why don’t you compromise?” 
asked Beth. 

How? ” inquired Will. 

Why, take us with you after nuts 
and things; play fair, and let us share 

the ]3rofits.” 

2 


18 


Holidaijs in the Countrij. 


‘‘You’d soon eat the profits up,” 
with a long look at where the nuts had 
been. 

“ See here,” said Tessie, looking into 
the long trough. Sure enough, there 
were all the nuts, and various other 
things which the boys had missed from 
time to time, after thinking them se- 
curely hidden from the little girls. 

“Well, that’s all that can be done,” 
said Rob; “when a little girl tries she 
can be just as hard to manage as a 
woman.” 

‘^Y^es, and sometimes a girl can 
manage boys just as easily as a wom- 
an can,” whispered Tessie slyly to 
Beth. 

So after that they were all good 
friends, and had a pleasant time alto- 
gether. Aunt Mary was most kind 
and indulgent, and Uncle Sam never 


Uncle Sam's Practical Joke. 


19 


wearied of them, nor failed to have 
some new treat in store for them when 
they came home after a long ramble 
into the leafy woods for flowers, grapes, 
persimmons, or sweet-gnm. He Avas 
always ready to tell them a w^onderful 
story of ghost or goblin, never failing 
to make a good moral, until meditative 
Tessie fell to guessing from the first 
hoAV the story would end and what the 
moral would be. To-day they are all 
picking blackberries in an old over- 
grown field, and talking incessantly. 

“ I wish I was rich,” says Rob; I’d 
have me a great big house full of chil- 
dren and dogs, and I’d just have more 
fun.” 

Would you have any girls? ” asked 
Beth, laughing. 

Two,” says Rob, with a mouth full 
of berries. 


20 


Holidays in the Country, 


‘‘1 wouldn’t care to be rich,” says 
Tessie; ‘Hhose are happiest who are 
not rich. You can have what you want 
just as well without being rich. I found 
that out when I read Miss Alcott’s ^ Lit- 
tle Women.’ ” 

don’t know,” says Beth slowly; 
‘‘1 have thought I’d love to have a 
great many dolls, but we have so many 
girls at our house, you know.” 

^^Yes, that’s just it,” says Tessie, 
who is the only child; I have heaps 
and. heaps of dolls, but I never care 
for them. I always thought I’d be 
happier if I had solnebody to play with 
— some little sisters, like you have 
Beth.” 

One always wants what they have 
not got,” begins Will, then cries out: 

OI What’s that?” 

Just here they heard such a noise 


Uncle Sam^s Practical Joke. 


21 


and tearing behind the bushes that 
they all stood still a moment, then with 
one bound they rushed wildly down 
the little pathway toward the house. 
How they ran, not daring to look back! 
All the stories of bears, panthers, and 
wildcats which they had ever heard 
coming into their minds — all wonder- 
ing how they would ever take time to 
cross the old log which served as a 
foot-bridge over a little stream, and 
must be crossed steadily. They were 
sorely frightened — their eyes wild with 
fear, their breath coming quick and 
fast, every nerve strained to its last 
tension — when they heard the most 
musical sound they will perhaps ever 
hear : it was the sound of hearty laugh- 
ter behind them. Then they knew 
that it was one of Uncle Sam’s prac- 
tical jokes, of Avhich they W'ere often 


22 


Holidays in the Country. 


the victims. They turned at once, 
catching him, pounding and kissing 
him, and calling him a great horrid 
man to frighten poor little children that 
way. But Uncle Sam could no more 
live without his fun than they could 
without getting into mischief; and as 
he had so often forgiven them for some 
misdemeanor, so they now forgave him, 
and all went happily home together, 
to relate to Aunt Mary their advent- 
ure. 



CHAPTER III. 

R Little Girl Lost arid Forlrid. 
morning at breakfast Aunt Mary 
told the children that Uncle Sam 
was going to cut a bee-tree, and they 
might accompany him if they wished. 

Here was joy! A trip anywhere 
with Uncle Sam was a treat at any 
time, but doubly so to-day, when they 
were all wondering what they would 
do with themselves. 

^AVhat is a bee-tree. Aunt Mary?’’ 
asked Beth. 

^AVell, my little town-girl,” says 
auntie, smiling, ^^it is Avhen the bees 
swarm from their hives, which they 
often do, and fly away into the woods 
and go into an old hollow tree to make 

their honey. Often Uncle Samuel’s 

( 23 ) 


24 


Holidays in the Country, 


bees do this, and it takes weeks to find 
them, even if some one else does not 
find them first; if they do, however, 
the finder has them. "When they find 
them, they do as we will do to-day — 
take a hive and bring them home.” 

After breakfast the four children, 
with Aunt Mary, Uncle Sam, and Jim 
the hired-man, all got into the wagon 
and went bowling over the beauti- 
ful country-road again. Summer Avas 
changing into autumn noAV, and the 
green leaves were fast turning into red, 
yellow, crimson, and purple. All the 
gorgeous hues of the rainbow were 
represented — as though nature had im- 
prisoned the sunshine and painted the 
leaves in Avild extravagance, Avith no 
reference to time or economy. 

At last the bee-tree Avas reached, 
and practical Uob and Beth busied 


A Little Girl Lost and Found. 


25 


themselves picking great basketfuls of 
brown nuts, just bursting from their 
hulls; while sober 'Will, who Avas see- 
ing his first bee-tree, sat upon the 
ground and Avatched Uncle Sam and 
Jim as they made the chips fly from 
each side of the big tree ; and Aunt Mary 
Avas busily spreading the savory lunch 
on a soft, mossy knoll, which seemed 
just made for the purpose. The great 
slices of home-made bread and yelloAV 
butter, the cold ham, chicken, and veg- 
etables, interspersed Avith pickles and 
pies, needed only the rich honey that 
they expected to And in the tree to make 
a dinner At for a king. Aunt Mary’s 
hobby Avas something nice to eat. 

But Avhere, all this time, Avas the ro- 
mantic little Tessie? She had Avan- 
dered aAvay into the beautiful Avood, 
picking here and there a bunch of 


I 


26 Holidays in the Country, 

bright red or yellow leaves, listen- 
ing to the voices of nature, thinking 
of the fairies, and wondering what of 
all the good things she would wish for 
if she should meet a dear little fairy 
dressed in green and gold, like the big 
butterfly that she saw a moment ago. 

I know, I know! ’’ she cried, clasp- 
ing her slim hands; ask for a 

dear baby-brother for a Christmas gift. 
See that great, darling old sunflower 
’way over there under that pretty ma- 
ple-tree, just determined he won’t let 
the frost get him: I’ll go over there 
and kiss him for his pluck.” 

Thus on she went from flower to 
flower, tree to tree, until she suddenly 
remembered that she was very hungry, 
and O so weary! She must rest just a 
little while anyway before she turned 
back. She drank some water from a 


A Little Girl Lost and Found, 


27 


little stream near by and sat down to 
rest, and must have fallen asleep; for 
the bee-tree was cut down, the dinner 
eaten, and all were ready to return 
home, yet Tessie had not returned. 
She had been taking lessons from Un- 
cle Samuel, and more than once had 
hidden herself, just for fun and to play 
a joke; and on this occasion they 
thought she had done the same, so 
they sat down and enjoyed their din- 
ners, thinking every moment that the 
little girl would rush out from behind 
some tree or shrub. But she did not. 

ow the shadows were growing long. 
Beth was badly frightened, and so was 
Aunt Mary. Uncle Sam, however, 
laughed and tried to appear uncon- 
cerned, though he looked very grave 
as he told Jim to take the others home 
in the wagon and bring two horses and 


28 


Holidays in the Country. 


come back, unless he met him Avith 
Tessie before he got back. Then Un- 
cle Sam disappeared in the Avoods, and 
the others started for home Avith heavy 
hearts; but before they reached there 
the clouds began to gather, and soon 
the rain fell in torrents, the lightning 
flashed, and thimdei*s crashed Avith a 
deafening roar. Then Annt Mary, avIio 
Avas Avalking the floor, Avith tight-draAvn 
lips and a sad heart, kneAV that Cy- 
press Creek — the treacherous stream 
on AAdiich they lived — AV^ould rise; that 
if the rains continued all the bottom- 
lands Avhere they had sj^ent the day 
Avonld be overfloAved. She thought of 
the Avild beasts that AVonld be diiven 
from their haunts by the back-Avater, 
and tears of anguish relieved her ach- 
ing heart. Beth Avept constantly, and 
AVill and Eqb Avere almost Avild. 


A Little Girl Lost and Found. 


29 


At last the night-shadows began to 
deepen around the sad watchers, the 
rain still fell thick and fast, when Beth 
looked through the window and saw 
Uncle Sam coming to the house wdth 
Tessie upon his shoulders, the rain 
dripping from them both. They were 
soon warmed and fed and comforted 
and sent to bed; but Tessie was not 
well for some time afterward. She 
took cold and fever. 

Then it was that the true natures of 
her little friends asserted themselves. 
Beth would not leave Tessie, but sat 
constantly beside her, doing every 
thing she wished so sweetly and pa- 
tiently; and Bob declared she was ^^a 
trump,” and wondered why he ever 
thought girls tiresome. Will scoured 
the woods for new beauties to bring 
her, to drive away the lonely hours. 


30 


Holidays in the Country, 


and succeeded so well that Aunt Mary 
declared there was nothing left for her 
to do hut make the broth; and this she 
did so well that on the twelfth day 
Tessie was able to join them in the 
long sitting-room, Avhere they had fire 
every evening. Here they sat telling 
stories of adventure and camp-life — 
for Uncle Sam had been to war; or 
of fairies and goblins; or, sweetest of 
all, those nice, long Bible-stories that 
Aunt Mary told them. Sometimes they 
roasted and ate nuts, popped corn, or 
ate apples, often all together; and on 
rare occasions Uncle Sam brought 
them all a mug of sweet cider to drink 
by this cheerful autumn fire. 

I am sure those little children will 
never forget Uncle Sam, nor dear 
Aunt Mary, nor the pleasant days 
Sjpent at that model farm-house. 


CHAPTER IV. 

Orie Purely Good Day. 

T he summer was waning, and the 
holidays were drawing to a close; 
indeed, the little folks must have been 
home already hut for Tessie’s sickness, 
which had detained them. 

Aunt Mary had j)romised them one 
good day, as they called it, and this 
was now in course of preparation. 
Swings were hoisted, the croquet- 
grounds made ready, and all the little 
folks for miles around were coming to 
the picnic. Such rejoicings as there 
were on this remarkable morning, when 
four heads poj)ped up, and black eyes 
and blue looked out on a clear, sunny 
day! How happy everybody was! 
How good of the sun to shine! 

( 81 ) 


32 


Holidmjs in the Country. 


^"Wonder why the sun does not 
shine every picnic, Tessie ? ” said Beth 
as they were busy dressing. 

Don’t know; s’pectit’sto make ’em 
good and be sorry they did wrong,” 
said Tessie, who had been learning 
moral lessons since her illness. 

^^That would not make ’em good. 
Why, s’pose the sun did not shine to- 
day, and it was raining — would you 
be good? No, nor me, nor Bob, nor 
Will,” said Beth conclusively, as she 
dipped her happy little face into a bowl 
of cool water. 

‘^Well, auntie says that sickness 
and disappointment are the fruits of 
disobedience, and are sent to make 
us remember to do right,” said Tes- 
sie, tying the bow of bright ribbon on 
her pretty hair and looking at the lit- 
tle face reflected before her where the 


One Purely Good Day, 33 

colors and dimples were fast coming 
back. 

“ O! ” said Beth, disappointments? 
Well, I’m so glad this is a pretty day; 
so glad, so glad!” And she danced 
wildly round the room, her white skirts 
and blue ribbons making a pretty pict- 
ure. 

The noise brought Will and Hob 
rushing in. They had been up quite a 
little while, and were waiting eagerly 
for their playfellows. 

Soon after, the children began to 
arrive, accompanied by their parents 
— for in the country it is customary, 
when the little ones are invited to spend 
a holiday, for the older people to go 
quilting and log-rolling; so while the 
women sat round Aunt Mary’s won- 
derful quilt and talked and gossiped of 
their past, present, and future, think- 
3 


34 


Holidays in the Country, 


ing meantime of the sumptuous dinner 
sure to follow, Uncle Samuel and the 
men all went into the fields, rolled up 
tlie big logs and burned them, or sat 
down and told stories of camp-life and 
bachelor days, while they drank the 
cool sweet cider that they found hid 
under the green bushes. 

And the little folks, how they did 
play and race and swing and scream! 
For Aunt Mary was determined that 
they should have a good time. If any 
nervous mother started up to stop their 
fun, auntie was ever ready with some- 
thing nice to quiet her down; and so 
the little ones, protected by her, were 
unhampered, and never was a day spent 
more happily. 

Out to the apple-orchard, back to 
the swing; down by the barn, where 
the nuts lay thick on the ground; up 


One Purely Good Dnij. 


35 


in the hay-loft, Avherc there were six of 
the liveliest little kittens in the world 
— to see and hear and eat, eat good 
things all day long*. Aunt Mary be- 
lieved that children could eat very 
much more, and not have enough, than 
could some mothers who had been 
troubled with rearing many of them; 
so for one day at least they were most 
intensely happy. 

O the joys of childhood — the bright, 
unalloyed, happy days, when no fear of 
the future, no shadow of the past, flits 
in to mar the present! 



CHAPTER V. 

Tl^e Little Gypsy Boy. 

ESSIE, Tessie, do look at that 



jL ragged hoy through the 

fQiice — did you ever see such a creat- 
ure?’’ said Beth, catching Tessie and 
drawing her close u^) to the fence. 

^^Who are you, little boy?” asked 
Tessie. 

^^None o’ your business!” said the 
boy shortly. You shut up! ” 

See here, ragamuffin. I’ll teach you 
to talk that way to Miss Tessie!” 
cried Will, running uj) just in time to 
hear the boy’s remark; and, jumping 
over the fence, he rolled up his sleeves 
and advanced threateningly toward 
him. But the boy showed no fear; he 
too struck an aggressive attitude, and 


( 36 ) 


The Little Gypsy Boy, 


37 


the other boys began to rim up, calling, 
fight! a fight! ’’ 

^^For shame, Will! If you hit that 
poor boy, I’m done with you forever. 
Roll down your sleeves this minute, 
and tell him you are sorry ! ” cried 
Tessie, coming up to them from the 
gate. 

Whatever is the matter with you, 
little boy?” she asked, going up to 
him and looking kindly into his dirty 
face. Why, he has the nicest kind 
of eyes,” she went on. Say, boy, 
what is your name, and where do you 
live?” 

‘‘Name’s Jack; live nowhere; run- 
away,” said the boy brokenly, looking 
straight at Tessie. 

“From your mamma?” asked Tes- 
sie. 

“No, got none; gypsies,” said Jack. 


38 


Holidays in the Country, 


Goodness! did they steal yon? ’’ 

‘^"What’s steal? ’’ asked Jack, look- 
ing around and causing all the little 
folks to laugh. This so frightened him 
that he started to run aAvay, and he 
ran right into the arms of Uncle Sam- 
uel, who was coming for a romp with 
the little ones before dinner. 

They couldn’t learn much from what 
Jack had to tell, except the fact that 
he had lived with the gypsies ; they beat 
him, and he ran away, and was very 
hungry, and had had no dinner to-day, 
yesterday, and some more times. Un- 
cle Sam took him into the house, and 
when he came out, with his pretty yel- 
low curls all brushed, his face clean, 
and his blue eyes shining, all dressed 
in one of "Will’s last year suits which 
had been hanging in the wardrobe for 
more than a year, the children could 


The Little Gypsy Boy. 


39 


not see any trace of the little raga- 
muffin. 

It was a week before the gypsies 
were heard from, and then they were 
well out of the country, and nothing 
more w^as learned of little Jack for 
years, but he had a happy home with 
Aunt Mary and Uncle Sam. 

For the remainder of the day the 
children were happy; they played ev- 
ery thing they knew or could invent, 
and at last they decided to play they 
were gypsies and steal all the little 
children they could find. 

^^Like me?” asked Jack. 

Yes; were you stolen? ” said Will. 

What’s stolen?” 

To take you away without asking. 
Who let you go with the gypsies? ” 

Don’t know; nobody, I guess,” 
said Jack. 


40 


Holidays in the Country. 


‘‘Well, you didn’t pick up much 
sense in their company anyway, it 
seems,” said Will, laughing. 

Jack blushed, hut threw a tuft of 
grass square into Will’s face, as he 
said hotly: “ Take that, big bully! ” 
“O Jack, Jack, for shame!” cried 
Tessie, coming up. “What will Un- 
cle Sam say?” 

“I don’t care what he says!” cried 
Jack, his face flushed, his eyes spark- 
ling, his sense of injury deadening ev- 
ery other feeling. “ I won’t be bullied 
by the great bear : to make fun of me, 
indeed! Ifll—I’ll— ’’ 

“ O my boy! ” and again Uncle Sam 
appears just in time to see the angry 
little fellow as he is trying to think of 
something indignant enough for him to 
do. “ Come Avith me. Jack; ” and Uncle 
Sam takes him away, but returns after 


The Little Gypsy Boy, 


41 


a short while and tells Will that it was 
very rude of him to talk as he did to 
the little fellow Avho was a stranger to 
them all, and his own adopted hoy.” 

‘‘You have grieved Uncle Sam very 
much, Will. I thought better of you 
than this.” 

Will is sobbing bitterly now, for he 
dearly loves his uncle, and is sorry to 
offend him; so he goes eagerly with 
him to apologize to the little gypsy 
boy. 

Impulsive Jack, who has knoAvn no 
discipline and has been governed in 
all things by his own feelings, has al- 
ready repented and is quite anxious to 
make up and get back to play : so the 
first lesson is learned and peace re- 
stored, and the day ended at last in 
one general romp and hurrah ; and 
Aunt Mary said, in the language of 


42 


Holidays in the Country, 


the immortal ^^Aiint Jo, of Plnmfield: ” 
‘^Dear little souls! do let them have 
one day in which they can howl and 
clatter and frolic, to their hearts’ con- 
tent. A holiday isn’t a holiday with- 
out plenty of freedom and fun; and 
they shall have full swing at least this 
once.” 



CHAPTER VI. 

Tessie’s Horr\e Joy. 

T ESSIE was at home again; and it 
was almost Christmas, when Santa 
Claus, with his merry hells and mer- 
rier hearts, would he here. But the 
greatest joy of all was that Tessie 
found a baby-brother when she came 
home. The sweetest, dimpled, dar- 
ling little bald-headed fellow in the 
world — a month old, mamma said; but 
Aunt Mary had not told her, because 
she was ill when she first heard it, and 
then she thought it would make her 
impatient to go home; so it was kept 
as a surprise for her. 

Tessie was never done loving the 
baby and wondering at the dimples 

and laughing blue eyes, so different 

( 43 ) 


44 


Holidays in the Country, 


from her own black, sparkling ones. 
She was perfectly happy now, and had 
filled a large box with all her dolls 
and marked them for Beth. Dear lit- 
tle Beth, she wanted dolls; she should 
have them; she should be as happy as 
Tessie was, with the greatest wish of 
her life realized. The dear little baby 
filled her life too full to hold any more. 
How she loved to see him in his bath 
as he cooed and kicked and laughed! 
When Christmas came and passed and 
New-year was here, the little fellow 
would be five months old. And how 
he grew! Everybody said he was the 
largest, brightest boy they ever saw. 
Tessie was sure he would be large 
enough to go to school in the spring, 
and her little head was full of wonder 
as to what he would like most to have 
Santa Claus bring him. 


Tessie's New Home Joy, 45 

School would soon he out for Christ- 
mas holidays, and Tessie had to recite 
a piece on the last Friday; so little 
Edward w^as set up in the buggy as the 
audience, while the little miss stood 
upon a trunk for a rostrum, and the 
recitation was practiced every evening 
while mamma was busy. Never was 
an audience so appreciative as this lit- 
tle blue-eyed boy, his large eyes fixed 
on Tessie’s face, a happy smile on his 
baby lips and shining in his eyes, as 
eight-years-old Tessie recited to him. 
'When the end was reached, and the 
grand bow made, little sister would 
jump from the trunk, sink her curly 
head on his little bosom, and O what a 
laugh they would have! But never 
till that bow was made Avould baby 
move his eyes from her face or allow 
his attention to be called from her. 


46 


Holidays in the Country. 


Tessie declared he heard every word of 
it, and knew j ust where the end was. 

He was a happy boy, and seemed 
only made to be loved. He just grew 
and grew and grew, was a joy to his 
mamma, a pride to his papa, and the 
world in all to little Tessie, who never 
before had had any thing to love that 
could love her back again, she said. 
She had a pretty kitten, and had always 
before seemed very fond of her cats. 

“Mamma, I do not love this kitten 
like I always used to love my cats. 
Why is it? It’s as pretty and smart 
as they were,” she said one day. 

“It’s because you love your little 
brother so much better than you could 
love the kitties that you do not realize 
how much they failed to fill your heart 
before. Brother is such a sweet little 
fellow, and loves you so, no wonder 


Tessie's New Home Joy. 


47 


you love him/’ replied mamma, kissing 
them both. 

‘‘What do you think Santa Claus 
will bring him, mamma?” 

“ Something he will like, my dear. 
What do you think he will bring you? ” 
asks mamma. 

“ O so long as I have baby, I am 
happy, happy! ” she answered, snatch- 
ing him up and running round and 
round. 

Ah! if the dearest love and fondest 
hopes could keep all the sweet little 
ones in this world, how few would 
ever leave this life for a place in the 
bosom of Jesus! 



CHAPTER VII. 

Pleasiire ir\ Store for Betti. 

B eth had gone home too. Her 
home was not one of the greatest 
plenty, and there were six little girls 
there with herself. Her mother, how- 
ever, was a gentle, patient woman, who 
devoted her whole life to her children 
and made their lives as bright as possi- 
ble. They inherited her gentle, yielding 
nature, and thus by her own virtues 
the little woman’s trials were light- 
ened. Their father, who was a minis- 
ter, had very little time to devote to 
them. In fact, his time was so fully 
taken up with his work that their man- 
agement devolved upon the mother 
alone. She accepted it meekly as an as- 
surance of God’s love. Thus Beth, who 
( 48 ) 


Pleasure in Store for Beth. 49 

had two sisters older than herself and 
three younger, had not the choice place 
in the family by any means. If it was 
any thing nice to wear, it must be 
for Lula or May, because they were 
the oldest; if anything to eat, it was 
for the others, because they were the 
least and youngest. Beth came in for 
all of the made-over dresses and the 
refused apples or candies, as the case 
might be; and as for dolls, only such 
as the older girls wouldn’t have or the 
younger ones couldn’t destroy were 
left for little Beth. Yet she had a 
sweet disposition, and dearly loved her 
younger sisters and admired her older 
ones — doing every thing she could in 
her self-forgetting, gentle way to oblige 
or humor them, and taking the little 
good that came in her Avay serenely 
and gladly, paying no heed to the bad. 

4 


50 


Holidays in the Country. 


She at all times acted in that quiet way 
common to those beings who extract 
good from every thing. 

Beth was in her mother’s room one 
morning amusing little Daisy, while 
Lula and May were swinging in the 
hall and Tiny and Dot were making 
mud-pies in the yard. 

Mrs. March was reading a letter 
which seemed to please her very much. 
Presently she said: ^^Beth, I have, a 
letter from Mrs. Lee, Tessie’s mother. 
She sends me fifty dollars, which she 
thinks is due your father for his work 
there last year. This is only her deli- 
cate way of putting it, I am sure. 
The Lees Avere always helpful and 
earnest advocates of your papa. How- 
ever, that was not what I wished to 
tell you. She wants ^ her little favor- 
ite Beth,’ she says, ‘ to come and spend 


Pleasure in Store for Beth, 


51 


the holidays with Tessie. She can 
think of nothing which she knows will 
please Tessie so much as a visit from 
you, dear.’ God bless my little girl, 
and always keep her good and lova- 
ble!” said Mrs. March, drawing her 
child to her bosom. Would you like 
to go, love?” 

‘‘Yes, so much, if you think Lula 
and May will help you all you need 
when I’m gone.” 

“Never fear, my dear little helper. 
Mother shall miss you, but she will 
know that you are happy, and will be 
content.” 

“Thank you, mamma. I’d like so 
much to see dear Tessie again.” 

“ Then mamma must begin to get 
you ready, for we haven’t many days 
to do it in,” said her mother, thinking 
that for once at least she must get 


62 


Holidays in ihe Comity, 


Beth a new outfit and draw the line 
somewhere else. Dear little Beth, 
her greatest comfort! ” 

So Beth had a pretty new costume of 
gray and scarlet, which so well became 
her that she looked more like a Little 
Red Ridinghood than ever; and she 
felt so happy that her eyes appeared 
like two stars twinkling, her cheeks 
like twin roses, and her dear little 
month like the sweetest rose-bud yon 
ever saw; so, as her papa said, ‘^It 
did not need the dress after all, be- 
cause she was too sweet without it.” 
But mammas and little girls all know 
how much a new dress helps to make 
bright eyes and happy hearts. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Preparing for flrjotrier Trip. 

“ T SAY, Rob, here’s news for you: 

1 Uncle Sam and Aunt Mary and 
Jack arc going np to the Lees’ to 
spend Christmas, and are coming by 
after ns to accompany them. flip, 
hip, hurrah!” And Will’s cap went 
high in the air, while he turned a 
double somersault, stood on his head a 
moment, then landed on his feet again. 

Isn’t that good, though? ” 

The somersault, or the news? ” asks 
liob lazily. 

O dear, don’t you care to go there ? ” 
returns Will. 

Certainly I do; but when?” says 
Rob. 

Soon as our new suits are here, and 

( 53 ) 


54 


Holidays in the Country. 


every thing got ready. O dear, what 
a pack of rubbish it is for a lot of 
women to get any thing ready ! "W e’re 
good enough as it is. Who wants to 
be rigged up like a new doll anyway, 
I’d like to know?” says Will, sitting 
down on the damp ground and throw- 
ing his feet over Towzer’s head, which 
made the dog bark lustily and fall 
upon him for a wrestle; so over and 
over they go, with no thought or care 
for mamma’s injunction ‘Ho be good 
and keep clean.” “Bill Arp” truly 
says: “If it was not for boys, dogs 
would have a hard time in “this world.” 

Rob stood by dancing and whistling, 
and thinking if after all he should not 
decline to go; for he was very bashful, 
and did not know Mr. and Mrs. Lee 
very well, while Tessie either liked or 
seemed to like Will better than him- 


Preparing for Another Trip, 


55 


self, and little Beth would not be there, 
to help him out as she was at Aunt 
Mary’s. So he wondered what to do; 
then he resolved to ask his mother — 
that wonderful help and comfort who 
never failed him, but always knew just 
what to tell him. 

Mother, who was very practical and 
wished her son to wear off his timid- 
ity, said that as Mrs. Lee had invited 
them she would most likely expect 
them to come; that it was only a small 
return that he could make her by go- 
ing and behaving himself as well as he 
could, not forgetting to do all in his 
power for the entertainment and good- 
will of his hostess — putting it in such 
a light that Bob felt it his duty to go; 
and in his earnest way he thought it 
wrong to shirk a duty, so he resolved 
to be as brave as he could and make 


56 Holidays in the Country. 

the most of it. But in his heart he 
wished Mrs. Lee had not invited him 
to her Christmas-tree at all. 

The days soon flew past, and the 
old coach rattled up to take the hoys 
on their holiday trip: the good-bys 
were said, and the last admonition giv- 
en, and away they went. 

Enjoy your lives now, sweet little 
men and women. ' Sow good seed in 
yonr bright lives while the heart is free 
and pure; hang bright pictures on its 
walls, that looking back you may enjoy 
them again and again. 



CHAPTER IX. 

R Yisit froir\ Sar\ta Clails. 
^HEISTMAS-EYE in the house of 
\l) the Lees: a large room full of life 
and brightness; a huge wood-fire burn- 
ing in the old-fashioned fire-place — a 
veritable yide-log glowing, sparkling, 
crackling, making the very crickets si- 
lent for joy, chasing every shadow into 
light, and proclaiming good-will to all 
men. 

Behind the long snowy curtains, all 
wreathed in green leaves and red ber- 
ries, was the most wonderful Christ- 
mas-tree you ever saw — just ready to 
pop into full view as soon as the cur- 
tain was drawn aside. 

Aunt Mary, with her happy, plump 

face full of good humor and love for 

( 57 ) 


58 


Holidays in the Country. 


everybody, sat near Mi% Lee, who was 
telling her something very interesting. 
Mrs. Lee, Uncle Sam, and Jack were 
watching Tessie and little fat baby 
Edward, who were rolling over the 
carpet in one of their favorite plays, 
when Will and Rob entered — Will 
very eagerly, Rob hesitatingly and 
bashfully. This was their first intro- 
duction to the Lees, for all had con- 
trived to keep their arrival from Tessie 
till the last. 

O joy ! joy! ” she cried, now catch- 
ing sight of the boys. O Will, dear 
Will, come here and see this little 
baby-brother! Did you ever see any 
thing so sweet?” And she dragged 
him over to the laughing child. 

Rob was left alone, but Uncle Sam 
drew him over near himself, and they 
were all soon very comfortable again. 


A Visit from Santa Claus, 


59 


Now the curtain was drawn back; 
and what a beautiful tree ! I can never 
tell you how it looked, with its green 
and red trimmings all interspersed 
with every thing wonderful and pretty. 
But what puzzled the little folks most 
was a big bundle done up in scarlet 
with gilt letters, ‘^For Tessie,’’ very 
plainly written. All eyes were fixed 
upon it; and Santa Claus, thinking 
they would take no interest in the 
other presents till this was opened, 
took it very tenderly in his arms and 
set it upon the floor, drew the red cloth 
from it, and — what did they see? 

Beth ! ” they shouted in a breath. 

However did you get there? ’’ 

Santa Claus brought me in his 
sleigh, perhaps,” she said, laughing, 
and hugging Tessie. 

Will kissed her with a resounding 


60 


Holidays in the Country. 


smack, and no embarrassment Avhat- 
ever; but Itob, who Avas so very glad 
he could not know Avhat to do, stood 
shyly by and made no sign that he 
knew she was there, except to smile 
at her very SAveetly as she greeted 
Jack, and to Avish that he Avas a little 
felloAY like EdAvard, that he too might 
be hugged and kissed. Indeed, I am 
not sure but he Avould have consented 
to be a girl for a little Avhile for the 
same privilege. 

At last the presents Avere all dis- 
tributed, and every one had just AAdiat 
he had Avished for. When Uncle Sam 
had shoAvn them the Avishing-stone, 
Avhich he declared he had found in the 
“ Avitch’s dell,’’ and told them to Avish 
three times out loud for what they 
wanted Santa Claus to bring them and 
it would come to pass, he Avrote all of 


A Visit fy'om Santa Claus. 


61 


their wishes down, and they were just 
right. 

Little Edward was asleep now, and 
mamma had taken him upstairs — some- 
thing she always did herself, for her. 
dearest love and brightest hopes were 
in that little dimpled baby-boy. 

Will and Tessie were looking at the 
neAV sled and skates, and wishing that 
it would fairly snow in the morning, 
while Jack was constantly taking one 
more blow into his Avonderful tin horn 
and eating candy, Avhen they said, 
Hush! ” 

Eob and Beth were sitting l^ehind 
the tree, in something of a shadow, 
looking over and admiring the ^Dretty 
dolls all dressed in their best clothes. 

Thirteen in all,’’ says Beth. How 
awfully good of Tessie to give them 
to me! Do you know. Bob, that I 


62 


Holidays in the Country. 


always thought I’d he just perfectly 
hapi^y if I had plenty of dolls? I will 
give Lula and May the two largest 
ones, and some of the others to Tiny 
and Dot,” she said, looking admiring- 
ly at a flaxen-haired beauty. 

But we may as well say here that 
her mother did not allow her to give 
any to Tiny and Dot, but told her to 
keep them as her own and be perfectly 
happy with them. 

^^And I know what would make me 
perfectly happy,” says Bob, blushing 
hotly and slipping an arm around her. 

Beth looked at him most kindly: 
‘‘ AVhat is it Bob? ” 

^^For you to kiss me too! ” he said 
simply. 

Beth placed her two arms around 
his neck and kissed him softly twice; 
then they Avent on admiring the dolls; 


A Visit from Santa Claus. 


63 


but Rob was not perfectly happy, be- 
cause he was so surprised that he for- 
got to kiss her back. 

’Twas ever thus. From childhood’s hour 
I’ve seen my fondest hopes decay. 

There was never such a Christmas- 
tree before. So thought each of the 
children there, and so thought many 
more little ones whom Mr. and Mrs. 
Lee, assisted by Uncle Samuel, had 
made glad and happy by timely gifts 
and loving sympathy. 

Why, Jack, did you get a doll 
too?’’ says Tessie, as he came up hold- 
ing a large Turk with a bandana ui^on 
its head. 

Yes, but that’s nothing; see here.” 
And he draws forth a purse full of mar- 
bles, the one thing of which he never 
had enough, and could never keep after 
he got them. 


64 


Holidays in tJ^e Country. 


Jack had grown and thrived at Uncle 
Sam’s and Aunt Mary’s, and entwined 
himself about their lonely hearts until 
they thought they could not live with- 
out him. 



CHAPTER X. 


R SliadoiA^ iri tl^e HoiT\e. 

OW it is spring* again. June, with 



L\ her roses and sunshine, has re- 
placed the glowing fire and white snows 
of winter. The afternoon sun shines 
with a golden glory; the roses and 
honeysuckles nodding in at the win- 
dow fill the room with fragrance and 
beauty; the mocking-bird on the hough 
just above pours forth his richest mel- 
ody. The sad cadence seems to fill the 
ears of all listeners, as if to make them 
forever afterward associate his song 
with sorrow and death. 

The horses in the lane stand solemn 
and still, as though they too under- 
stood human woe and ofiered their 
quiet sympathy. There is a hush and 


5 


( 65 ) 


66 


Holidays in the Country, 


sadness upon every thing, for dear lit- 
tle Edward is dead. The little house- 
hold angel, beloved and idolized by 
every one — the dear little child who had 
never known the want of care and 
love, who had never felt one breath of 
neglect — has flown away from his fond 
parents and loving little sister to that 
brighter land where Jesus is, where 
his golden wings will expand, his little 
mind develop into a finer intelligence 
than it could ever have done here. 
But they do not think of this now, 
those who are left behind him here; 
they only realize that he is gone, never 
more to return — that their brightest 
hopes in life are blighted ; that to them 
the world is dark and full of sorrow. 

Little Tessie stands beside the cotiin, 
looking for the last time on that beau- 
tiful face Avith its dimples not yet hid- 


A Shadow in the Home, 


67 


den, the sweet baby smile so natural 
and fair. The look of sulFering and 
horror on her gentle face tells how 
this has crushed her loving heart, and 
that it is her first look on the face of 
death. The mother, kneeling beside 
her, has her heart too full of grief and 
blasted hopes to try to comfort the lit- 
tle child whom God has left her. The 
mocking-bird still sings, the sun shines 
with the same yellow glory, the little 
dog rubs with gentleness against the 
feet of his mistress, but she takes no 
heed of all these. The men come in, 
place the cover on the casket, the cruel 
screws are driven down, and the light 
of dear, little Edward’s bright baby- 
fiice is shut out from this world for 
evermore. 

It seems to mother and daughter 
that for them life will be a blank for- 


68 


Ilolidays in the Country. 


ever — an empty existence which they 
can never endure. At present they have 
no thought of consolation — only an 
emptiness in their hearts which they 
cannot bear to think of, and can in no 
manner forget. Turn wherever they 
will, there is wanting the babe’s sweet 
presence, which they cannot under- 
stand nor fathom, and can only pray 
God to pity and help them. 



CHAPTER XI. 

After Five Y ears. 

F ive years have passed since we first 
met the characters of our little sto- 
ry. Tessie is now a slim, pretty girl of 
thirteen years, with a suspicion of sad- 
ness in her shadowy eyes, hut the same 
bright Tessie of old. She is rocking 
in a hammock caressing a large, hand- 
some cat, whom she dearly loves now. 
Standing beside her is the boisterous 
Will of other days. He has grown 
taller and handsomer than of old; his 
curly yellow hair is smoother, his eyes 
brighter, and his blushes more fre- 
quent. He doesn’t seem so confident 
as he once did that any girl would love 
to kiss him; he has learned from ex- 
perience. He is saying: ^^Do you re- 
5 * ( 69 ) 


70 


Holidays m the Countrij. 


member the afternoon that we were 
picking berries, Tessie, when Uncle 
Sam frightened ns so?’’ 

I do,” says Beth, running up taller 
and sweeter than ever; and what we 
were talking of too when the noise 
came.” 

“What was it?” asked Bob, stalk- 
ing up, with his hands thrust into his 
pockets, his eyes dancing mischiev- 
ously. 

“ Why, Tessie said she Avouldn’t care 
to be rich, and you said if you were 
you’d fill a house full of boys and dogs, 
and put two little girls in there and 
torture them to death. Wasn’t that 
it, Tessie?” said Beth, laughing. 

“ That’s right about Tess, but 1 
ny the charge,” said Kobert, who had 
been to hear some politicians speak. 
“ Now, what did you say. Miss Beth? ” 


After Five Years. 


71 


I remember now/’ said "Will; 
she said that if she had plenty of dolls 
she would he perfectly happy. W asn’t 
that it? ” 

Robert blushed red as a rose here, 
and Beth said: Yes, I said that; and 
I’m sorry I did, for it caused Tessie 
to give me all of hers, and they were 
very beautiful too ; but somehow please 
don’t feel hurt, Tessie. I was never so 
happy with them as I thought I would 
be. They didn’t altogether fill my 
heart. I always felt lonesome like, to 
be with Tessie herself, when I saw 
them.” 

‘^What did Will say? O yes, I 
know now. He said: ^ That’s just it; 
one always wants what he hasn’t got.’ ” 
What do you want now. Will, that 
you haven’t got?” asked Tessie, turn- 
ing her bright face on him. 


72 


llohdays in the Country. 


“ I want you to get out of this ham- 
mock, turn that tiresome cat loose, and 
come for a game of croquet. The sun 
is nearly down, and liob and I must 
go soon.” 

‘^Very well, sir. Good-by, kitty; 
be comfortable till I return. Come, 
Beth and Itob, let’s have a good game 
with partners — Bob and I against you 
and Will,” called Tessie leaping light- 
ly to the ground and running away. 
“Ileigho! here’s Jack, with a basket 
of red apples. Take your choice, and 
come on. Jack, you may swing in 
the hammock with Tom and eat apples 
till we return, if you like. You dear 
little yellow-headed lump of fat, kiss 
me now and go.” 

Jack, who loved Tessie dearly, threw 
his fat arms around her neck and kissed 
her affectionately, which caused Will 


After Five Years. 


73 


to say with a laugh, Why can’t boys 
always stay little?” 

Aunt Mary, Uncle Sam, and Mr. 
and Mrs. Lee came out to watch the 
game, and decided that they had cer- 
tainly had ^^a rousing good time,” as 
Will said they had. 

And here for the present we leave 
them. 


THE END. 







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